Rhythm Killers
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Rhythm Killers (1987) is an album by Sly and Robbie produced by Bill Laswell.
By the time of the album's recording, Sly and Robbie had transitioned away from their prolific work in the reggae genre. They spent the 1980s experimenting with electronic sounds and contemporary recording technology on international, cross-genre endeavors, which influenced their direction for Rhythm Killers.
Sly and Robbie enlisted producer Bill Laswell and an ensemble of musicians to record the album at the Quad studio in New York City. Along with their live instruments, the duo used electronic recording equipment such as the Fairlight CMI synthesizer and electronic drums. The predominantly funk and dance-oriented album is arranged into two side-long gapless suites of songs. Other styles featured on the record include hip hop, hard rock, worldbeat, and downtown music. Laswell's densely layered production incorporated electronic grooves, hard beats, string synthesizers, and cross-rhythms produced by turntable scratches, African and Latin-influenced percussion, and percussive raps.
Rhythm Killers charted in four countries, including the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 35. It was promoted with two singles, including the UK hit "Boops (Here to Go)". The album received positive reviews from critics and was ranked in year-end lists by NME magazine and Village Voice critic Robert Christgau, who named it the seventh best record of 1987. Encouraged by its success, Sly and Robbie continued their digital direction on subsequent albums. Rhythm Killers has since been out of print.
Tracks
- Fire
- Boops (Here to Go)
- Let's Rock
- Yes We Can Can
- Rhythm Killer
- Bank Job
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
- Billy Beck – composer
- Karl Berger – composer, conductor, melodica, string arrangements, vibraphone
- Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner – composer
- Steve Boyer – assistant engineer
- Bootsy Collins – composer, guitar, vocals
- Gary "Mudbone" Cooper – vocals
- Jason Corsaro – mixing
- Aïyb Dieng – bells, congas, percussion
- D.S.T. – turntable
- Sly Dunbar – composer, percussion, Simmons drums
- Bernard Fowler – vocals
- Marshall Jones – composer
- Bill Laswell – composer, producer
- Material – producer, string synthesizer
- Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks – composer
- Robert Musso – engineer
- Marvin "Merv" Pierce – composer
- Daniel Ponce – batá drum, bells
- Rammellzee – vocals
- Clarence "Satch" Satchell – composer
- Robbie Shakespeare – bass, composer
- Shinehead – composer, vocals
- Nicky Skopelitis – Fairlight programming, guitar
- Pete Sturge – assistant engineer
- Pat Thrall – guitar
- Henry Threadgill – flute, saxophone
- Allen Toussaint – composer
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- James "Diamond" Williams – composer
- Bernie Worrell – prepared piano
